Vanderbilt by Gloria Vanderbilt

I absolutely adore smelling it on others, but especially on myself. It is intense, elegant, powdery, sweet, floral, and ultra-feminine to the max, with makeup notes. Its intensity is a surprise for its price and a feat that, 40 years later, continues to sell thanks to its quality. It outpaces almost any modern perfume in complexity and presence. Is it for everyone? No, it doesn’t seek to please everyone; you either love it or hate it, like any good perfume. Is it for any occasion? Not really, it has its season: in summer it’s overwhelming, but in autumn/winter it’s cosy, warm and enveloping, like a good cashmere jumper. Vintage? Yes, but more than vintage, it’s classic. Is it for an older lady? One would have to be very bitter to associate that term with something outdated or musty, as I’ve read online. It’s the infantilisation of society. If you’re curious, give it a try. It’s a scent of love at first sight… or of hatred. Nobody is perfect.

I tried it in a shop yesterday and at first I thought it was that vintage ‘older lady’ smell, but it dried down quickly and I fell in love; it smells like soap and clean. I liked it so much that I bought it today. I can’t believe such a good and long-lasting perfume costs so little (8€ with hand cream).

In my opinion, it stinks and overwhelms my nasal receptors.

In my almost obsessive search for scents from my childhood, I came across Vanderbilt almost by chance a year ago while looking for classic women’s perfumes in my city. I’d smelled it countless times: several schoolteachers, some mothers and older sisters of my friends. In the late 80s and much of the 90s, Vanderbilt was everywhere. I didn’t know what it was, but I was fascinated by it like few other women’s perfumes; its scent touched the sublime. When I found out the name and price, I wanted to buy it just to enjoy it at home, spray it on my arm and inhale its incomparable essence of white flowers. I didn’t dare because of its feminine character, worrying about what the shop assistant might think, or above all, what my partner would say upon seeing a women’s perfume in my collection. But nothing stopped that idea, and soon I won the battle. Weeks later, on a spring afternoon, I left the perfumerie with this marvel and felt happy. Gloria Vanderbilt is a work of art for me; since I got it, many nights I’ve slept in its embrace.

A very pretty and well-made perfume that harmonises all the notes beautifully, and on my skin, the pineapple note stands out from start to finish. It’s an excellent option at an economical price, but I don’t recommend it to those who can’t handle aldehydes or civet, as there is plenty of both here. It always makes me feel well-groomed. Its only flaw is longevity; I wish it were a bit longer-lasting.

I dreamt of this perfume before I even owned it; what an aroma! It’s a white-yellow floral that captivates from the very first spray. Aldehydes, pineapple, orange blossom, citrus, ylang-ylang, lilies, jasmine, roses, vanilla, sandalwood, cinnamon, animalic notes, vetiver, and lots of musk. I can’t stop smelling it; it’s like arriving at a grand ballroom, the entrance to a theatre with classic mahogany staircases, an open space with a plush red floor, enormous vases overflowing with yellow flowers and a giant Swarovski lamp. Like a mansion hall with its beaded gold-framed mirror, cherry console and Persian carpet… so warm! It envelops me and perhaps transports me to those places because it invites me to a zone of familiarity and well-being, the path to a dream, home, comfort and the company you choose… He chose me with his essence. 🕯️ 9.5/10.🔥

A well-balanced eau de parfum, very feminine, romantic use. Undoubtedly autumnal. Longevity is more than acceptable. An American perfume gone wild. What environment does it transport me to? To the novel Little Women.

The year I was born, 1982, I absolutely love it; it’s elegant, a sophisticated classic at a scandalous price. The scent you recognise because your mother or grandmother used it, but not that old and unpleasant smell, never! It’s a lovely, soft, clean, talc-like, tender and elegant fragrance. A perfume within anyone’s reach, which teenagers could make fashionable again and would look brilliant on (though I hope they don’t), and which remains a hidden perfumery gem unnoticed by the masses. The only thing that stands out is its aroma and the fact that nobody discovers this little thing costs under €10, because if they did, it would go viral and lose its charm.

My mother has kept this perfume for some time; I couldn’t resist the temptation to use a little and what a pleasant aroma! It’s floral, spicy, aldehydic and talc-like, one of those eighties and nineties fragrances with so many ingredients it’s hard to distinguish them; I’ll list the ones I managed to perceive most: carnation, cinnamon, rose, sandalwood, pineapple, ylang-ylang and the aldehydes. We’ll keep it stored well, because these scents are hard to find these days.

Gloria Vanderbilt eau de toilette, it’s a fragrance that is strong at first, aldehydic, talc-like and white-yellow floral with carnation, sandalwood and cinnamon, suitable for people aged 25 and over, cold climates and formal events. It’s a very serious classic, having something similar to Chanel No. 5 but without the vanilla felt in its evolution. Its longevity is 1 to 3 hours and its sillage is moderate.

Lucky for me, this is my birth year perfume, and it possesses such elegant freshness, even in the height of summer. It is the first aldehyde that doesn’t smell like window cleaner like Chanel N°5; it is soft, delicate, and feminine. At 25°C with 8 sprays, it doesn’t overwhelm, lasts about five hours, and the bottle, although without the glass cap, remains beautiful. For under £8.50, it is worth every penny. I use it all year round, from the beach to parties or even funerals; it looks perfect anywhere.

With Gloria Vanderbilt, I began my adventure as a perfume lover. What a special jewel, impossible to forget.

Vanderbilt is my guilty pleasure in perfumery: strange and charming. It is sweet and persistent, with an enviable trail, but in the end leaves a bitter and dry note. That mix of sweet and bitter is what hooks you. I feel the mix of pineapple, cinnamon, and sandalwood, like a spice potion for New Year that is exquisite but dizzying. That is why a few drops are enough. Created in the 80s, it smells of an older era and endures for the woman, perhaps inspired by Gloria Vanderbilt’s turbulent life before her glamour. It may not enchant at first; it needs time to be digested, but its durability and singularity are worth it. It is an outdated perfume that, with use, makes you want and appreciate its daily strength.

I was about to buy Girl Now by Elie Saab, looking for something oriental and warm, but out of curiosity and the price, I took this perfume instead. Now, in autumn, its warm and sunny notes give an incredible sense of well-being. I felt like a bumblebee hibernating in its nest of nectar and yellow petals. Although it does not appear in the pyramid, I perceive honey and above all creamy ylang-ylang with woods in a delicious cocktail. I keep this great discovery.

If, according to several, a perfume smells of ‘older woman’, what shall we say of Chanel N°5 that so many young girls wear believing themselves modern? Those who think certain perfumes smell old understand nothing about fragrances and are rude for belittling people based on their age. An older woman does not have to smell bad if she takes good care of herself. Identifying old age with bad smell is absurd, a lack of delicacy, and a lie.